6 Questions to Ask Recruiters So You Get the Job You Really Want

Kelly Dawson is a writer and editor who focuses on architecture, interior design, and culture. She regularly contributes to Architectural Digest's vertical Clever and Domino, and she's been writing for Dwell Magazine since 2015.

When it comes to the typical job hunt, we all think we understand what should be on the average to-do list. For starters, we know to have a well-defined résumé and an error-free cover letter. It also helps if we've practiced our interview answers and even picked out an office-appropriate outfit. But as much as we overthink our previous work history and the strength of our handshake, there's one detail we may not pay enough attention to at all: impressing a recruiter.

Like the guard at the gate of a castle, a recruiter is the first shield of a secure paycheck—the initial decision maker of who gets to meet with a hiring manager and who doesn't. And while there are plenty of factors that go into receiving a job offer, failing to impress the position's recruiter will never reveal those crucial details. So to get a better insight into how to approach this acquaintance, we asked Los Angeles–based recruiter Alexander Tucker for his advice.

Although Tucker works in the light industrial and skill trade industry, his tips on what to ask can help any job seeker get past a posting's first hurdle.

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What type of position is this? "This is a good and simple question to see if this job is the right one," Alex says. "For example, if someone is quitting a stable job to work a short-term contract, that's probably not the best idea. But on the other hand, if a person is out of work and the position is a contract-to-hire, then that's a good fit for the candidate."

Where is the job located? "You should think twice about taking a job that's more than 20 miles away, due to all the gas and time you're using to get to it," he notes. "It's an easy way to determine if you should explore this job or not."

What are the most important duties? "This is a great question for getting a clear understanding of what the job is and if it's actually something that you would like to wake up and do day in and day out," Alex says. "It'll also help you tailor your résumé to the job."

What can you tell me about the hiring manager? "It's a good idea to know whether or not you'll be reporting to the person you're potentially interviewing with," he says. "If the recruiter can tell you anything about the hiring manager, like her position in the company, that'll help."

Why is this position available? "This is a good question to gauge a little more about the details of the job, as well as the status of the company," Alex says. "Maybe it's a more demanding position than the job description lets on or maybe the company is expanding."

Does the company offer advancement? "This ties back into knowing the duration of the job," Alex says. "If a company is saying that it wants someone for six months and then the job will potentially extend, that gives you a clear understanding of the company's direction."

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